Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, famed for operas, films and television, dies in Rome at age 96.
FILE - Franco Zeffirelli, seen in New York, in this Oct. 31, 1974 file photo. Italian film director Franzo Zeffirelli has died in Rome at the age of 96. Zefffirelli's son Luciano said his father died at home on Saturday at noon.
Claiming no favorites, Zeffirelli once likened himself to a sultan with a harem of three: film, theater and opera. He was one of the few Italian directors close to the Vatican, and the church turned to Zeffirelli’s theatrical touch for live telecasts of the 1978 papal installation and the 1983 Holy Year opening ceremonies in St. Peter’s Basilica. Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi also tapped him to direct a few high-profile events.
Where Zeffirelli worked, however, controversy was never far away. In 1978, he threatened to leave Italy for good because of harsh attacks against him and his art by leftist groups in his country, who saw Zeffirelli as an exponent of Hollywood. It was during this period of his childhood, living in Zia Lide’s house with weekly visits from his father, that Zeffirelli developed passions that would shape his life. The first was for opera, after seeing Wagner’s “Walkuere” at age 8 or 9 in Florence. The second was a love of English culture and literature, after his father started him on thrice weekly English lessons with a British expatriate living in Florence.
The lifelong bachelor turned from architecture to acting at the age of 20 when he joined an experimental troupe in his native city. Both La Scala and New York’s Metropolitan Opera later played host to Zeffirelli’s classic staging of “La Boheme,” which was shown nationally on American television in 1982.
“In the last 30 years, I’ve done everything a lyric theater artist can do,” Zeffirelli wrote in an article for Italy’s Corriere della Sera as the film was released in 1983. “This work is the one that crowns all my hopes and gratifies all my ambitions.”
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Franco Zeffirelli, Oscar-Nominated Director for 'Romeo and Juliet,' Dies at 96The Italian legend was famous for his opulent Shakespeare adaptations and staging of lavish operas with Maria Callas and others.
Read more »
Franco Zeffirelli, Director of Theater, Opera and Film, Dies at 96Franco Zeffirelli, the stylish and sometimes controversial theater, opera and film director, has died. He was 96. Zeffirelli, who was Oscar-nominated for his 1968 version of “Romeo and Juliet…
Read more »
Romeo Santos Talks 'Crazy Chemistry' With His Aventura 'Brothers'.RomeoSantosPage is ready to make history ahead of his headlining concert at MetLifeStadium.
Read more »
Rosie Perez Calls Out Male Costars for Penis Tucking and Wanting to Bite Her Where?!?The actress shared some TMI tales from her days on set while appearing on 'Watch What Happens Live.'
Read more »